AN: It's been awhile since I last updated... But to make up for it, here's a long part!

Part 8

"Doctor Watson," Mycroft stood up from his desk, sliding a draw open, "you've come for the 'Harrington' files, I presume?" Pulling out the files, he beckoned them to sit down. "Ah, and this must be Detective Inspector Lestrade. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"You've heard of me?"

"Detective Inspector, you work with my brother. You tolerate him. Of course I have heard of you. Now, Harrington..."

"Uh, Mycroft-"

"Quiet, John. You asked me have a look at him, to see what I could find, now listen. I used valuable time in researching him, when I could have been working on the Libyan Uprising," Mycroft paused, shuffling the papers in his hands, "So, for one thing, the man you want for my brother's disappearance is dead. Has been for the last two years."

"Pardon? Dead? Bu-" Mycroft held up a hand, silencing the Inspector.

"- Don't interrupt, Detective Inspector, one thing you should know about me is that I don't have the patience to repeat myself, or stop mid-sentence. Now, whoever you sent my brother out after, they're using an alibi. Impersonating Harrington. But there had to be a reason to pick him," He placed the files onto the table, "why choose a deadman? From what I could find, George Harrington wasn't a very nice man. He had been convicted of several serious assaults, and there had been one major incident of a ra-"

"Mycroft, can I-"

"-pe... Inspector, I've told you before. I don't like-"

"Look, Mycroft, its Sherlock... He-"

"I'm sorry? What abou-" He blinked, of course. How could he have not seen it? Harrington. Look at his convictions, now why take a rapists name. An alibi? No, only if you're after trouble, if you want to be caught... As a message? To make it clear of his intentions? Has to be. Why else would he do it? But that could only mean... "Oh, I see."

"Mr Holmes, sir, we're doing everything we can, but we can't do it alone. Scotland Yard doesn't have the resources, and the ability, to find a supposedly walking deadman. We need you to stay calm for this, but we - John, he was sent a video and-"

"Show me."

"I'd rather you d-"

"Rather what? Detective Inspector, if you value your badge, I'd advise you to listen to me," Leaning forward, Mycroft narrowed his eyes, "Show me the tape. By not doing so, you're with-holding evidence to a Government investigation. Now, you don't want that to go on to your records, do you?"

"Gov-government investigation?"

"John's told you. I work for them. Now, show me the tape. How else am I supposed to offer any help without any evidence?"

Mycroft frowned as he watched John and Lestrade glance at one another, unsure of what to say to his outburst of power. Sighing, he rubbed his nose and leant back in his chair, watching as the two men began to whisper to one another. It pained him that this wasn't going anywhere, why wouldn't they listen? It's obvious that he needed that one piece of evidence to find the location of his bro- Sherlock. Damn his brother. It was always about him. Always him getting into trouble, and leaving Mycroft to get him out of it... But I promised Mummy I'd look after him, after all, I do worry about him, constantly.

He closed his eyes, and pictured his brother from when they were younger, standing in front of the London Eye, smiling that rare smile of his, laughing... How he missed that nuisance of a sibling, and for him to be kidnapped right under his nose... It really did pis-

"Well," he snapped out of thoughts, and glared towards John, "do you know anything to do with the name 'Moran'?"

"Moran." Why did that sound familiar to him?

"Yeah, he's the one using the alibi... Do you-" Wait, Moran. Moran! Of course!

"Moran! Yes, wait here," Mycroft jumped out of his seat, and paced over to a cabinet to the side. Opening the draw, he sighed, "Moran, ah, this isn't good... Not good at all..."

From behind him John stood up, "Mycroft, who is he?"

"The second most dangerous man that you will ever meet."

"And... the first?"

"Me."

"Really?" Please don't say John is really that gullible...

"No, of course not. I should be the first, and I consider myself it, yet sadly I'm not... Ah, yes! Found it. Knew Anthea kept it somewhere..." Pulling out the file, Mycroft turned to face them, face grim. "Anyway, you've met the first."

"Moriarty..?"

"Yes. James, or Jim as I seem to remember Sherlock say, Moriarty. The pyschopathic 'consulting criminal'. My dear brother's archnemesis. The one who threw the damn Bruce Parkington(?) disk into that pool..." He stopped, Moriarty. A consulting criminal... Moran. "A link, there's a link. There must be a link."

"Mycroft, tell me about Moran, " John asked, joining the older Holmes' side.

"What is there to say? Like you, he was fighting in Afghanistan, a colonel, entirely devoted to his military career. He was praised for his talent at marksmanship, since he never missed a target, and was honoured by many. But even with his reputation, he was suddenly forced to retire from the army. An incident occured that had been kept hidden, looked away from prying eyes..." Mycroft passed a file to Lestrade, "But it didn't escape mine. Sebastian Moran was caught in a scandal. Murdering innocent civilians, and the selling of British weapon supplies wasn't accepted within their regiment, and so he was court martialled. But how he managed to pass the trial lightly? I have no clue. It's clear bribery had happened, or they were afraid. Always be afraid of the men you train, especially if they're the talented ones. You never know when they'll turn. Anyway, once he arrived back in London-"

"He vanished."

"Exactly. And this is where it links."

"You keep saying it links," John said, whilst rereading the file, "but where and what exactly does it link?"

"Moran and Moriarty. To be let off so easily must mean someone of a higher power, someone dangerous had been involved. Moriarty must have heard of Moran's talents, and-"

"-And wanted it for himself!" Lestrade slammed the file onto the table, "Of course! In the video, he mentioned Moriarty, said how he felt jealous because of his obsession with Sherlock... He must have bargained with him, allowing him to work for Moriarty if the criminal made his trial pass lightly..."

"Lestrade. I've told you twice now... Don't interrupt. Wait. What? He's in the video?"

"Yes. I, er- well... Look..."

"This is why I need to see it, John. Do you understand? I'm missing out important factors towards the problem, and I never rely people's memories of whats been said, as the average human memory is only 62%-"

"Accurate... I know..."

"John. If you need my help, I must see the tape. I'll see what I can deduce from it. With Sherlock not being here, I'm what's left. You need to-"

"Mycroft."

"John, he's my brother. Least of you could do is show it to me. If I'm to help you, I need to. See. The. Tape."

"Lestrade," John sighed, "I think, it's the only way, could you?"

The DI stood, nodded, and held his hand out to Mycroft, "A pleasure meeting you too, Mr Holmes, but I don't think this is a good idea... I've already... No, I'll go get it from the Yard."

Mycroft took his hand, "You do that, and your concern is appreciated. I know what I'm doing, and please, don't fret. I can handle this. We know who the culprit is, but not his whereabouts. And by the sounds of it, you're aware of his motive. Bring the tape to me in three hours, my team and I will be ready waiting for you."

"I'll see you then." John stood too, and began to follow Lestrade out the door.

"Oh, and John?"

"Yes, Mycroft?"

"Thank you, for everything."

"I - uh... No problem. You know I'll do anything for him, and I will find him, remember that."

"I know you will, but that's not what I'm worried about."

John frowned, "What is it then?"

"It's what we will find."